Through personally watching my auntie battle with the hardships and persistent demands of raising an autistic daughter and two young boys ,while desperately trying to maintain normalcy in her life and the lives surrounding her, it has become evident to me that humans posses an extraordinary ability to keep on going even when in the firing line of adversity.
Perseverance and consistent dedication is a quality in which is hard to maintain and yet we see it in those courageous, select few every day. The following poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley (1875) is one in which I greatly admire as an inspirational reminder that we as humans determine and create our own road to follow.
Invictus
By William Ernest Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.
The title explains it all, Invictus a Latin word meaning unconquered. The great significance about this poem is that no matter a person’s situation or hardship it is still identifiable by everyone. In general this poem speaks of a darkness surrounding one’s life. The poet holds a firm ideology which is showcased in Invictus that no matter the darkness, the circumstance or the harshness in which life brings, a person should not accept his supposed fate but has the choice as a human to control their own destiny and be unafraid to make their own decisions to where their life will lead.
The author of this poem William Henley is an inspiring voice who speaks of defying all odds and instead of succumbing to the tortures and pain that life often brings he fights against it. Henley himself was a victim to Tubercular Arthritis which led to the amputation of his left foot and a prolonged exposure to hospital life.However, he refused to accept the notion of a second amputation and instead pursued more informed information about his condition and from then began antiseptic treatment. In 1875 he was dismissed from the hospital as the Tubercular germ that plagued him had deceased, this factor only further serving as a testament of Henley’s personal philosophy to the nature of the human spirit and to what can be achieved when one doesn’t take the easy option.
The line “I thank whatever gods may be, for my unconquerable soul” ultimately shows Henleys true character portraying his appreciative attitude towards the life he has. It is uncommon for a person who has gone through so much to be thankful for being granted with the gift of willpower (an unconquerable soul) which allows him to live fully rather than being resentful for the sufferings that he has endured.
Modern day movies such as ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ set in the 1980’s nearly a century after Invictus was written, is another emphasises to the corresponding ideology of Henley’s poem that from nothing you can still become something if you put your mind to it. Just as Chris Gardner did (played by Will Smith in the Pursuit of Happyness) when he makes a life altering change and decision to raise himself and his child above the chaos and poverty that was their current existence to have a successful life.
Perseverance and consistent dedication is a quality in which is hard to maintain and yet we see it in those courageous, select few every day. The following poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley (1875) is one in which I greatly admire as an inspirational reminder that we as humans determine and create our own road to follow.
Invictus
By William Ernest Henley
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeoning of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate;
I am the captain of my soul.
The title explains it all, Invictus a Latin word meaning unconquered. The great significance about this poem is that no matter a person’s situation or hardship it is still identifiable by everyone. In general this poem speaks of a darkness surrounding one’s life. The poet holds a firm ideology which is showcased in Invictus that no matter the darkness, the circumstance or the harshness in which life brings, a person should not accept his supposed fate but has the choice as a human to control their own destiny and be unafraid to make their own decisions to where their life will lead.
The author of this poem William Henley is an inspiring voice who speaks of defying all odds and instead of succumbing to the tortures and pain that life often brings he fights against it. Henley himself was a victim to Tubercular Arthritis which led to the amputation of his left foot and a prolonged exposure to hospital life.However, he refused to accept the notion of a second amputation and instead pursued more informed information about his condition and from then began antiseptic treatment. In 1875 he was dismissed from the hospital as the Tubercular germ that plagued him had deceased, this factor only further serving as a testament of Henley’s personal philosophy to the nature of the human spirit and to what can be achieved when one doesn’t take the easy option.
The line “I thank whatever gods may be, for my unconquerable soul” ultimately shows Henleys true character portraying his appreciative attitude towards the life he has. It is uncommon for a person who has gone through so much to be thankful for being granted with the gift of willpower (an unconquerable soul) which allows him to live fully rather than being resentful for the sufferings that he has endured.
Modern day movies such as ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ set in the 1980’s nearly a century after Invictus was written, is another emphasises to the corresponding ideology of Henley’s poem that from nothing you can still become something if you put your mind to it. Just as Chris Gardner did (played by Will Smith in the Pursuit of Happyness) when he makes a life altering change and decision to raise himself and his child above the chaos and poverty that was their current existence to have a successful life.
Henley illustrates above all else that he is in charge of his own life, the last two lines “I am the master of my fate, I am the Captain of my soul” concludes the poem with a firm lasting impression which captures the readers emotions calling them to action to as well become masters of their own lives.
I find it extremely distressing that although we are now in the modern era with advanced technology which is only continuing and even greater opportunities such as education being available for nearly everyone, in general it seems that our problems or our complaints are only multiplying. It appears that more and more we have lost the will to fight our own battles.It is nearly as though we find comfort in being consumed by the darkness of our lives or only obtaining second best as though the pursuit of true happiness is simply just too hard a road to follow.
C.D
I find it extremely distressing that although we are now in the modern era with advanced technology which is only continuing and even greater opportunities such as education being available for nearly everyone, in general it seems that our problems or our complaints are only multiplying. It appears that more and more we have lost the will to fight our own battles.It is nearly as though we find comfort in being consumed by the darkness of our lives or only obtaining second best as though the pursuit of true happiness is simply just too hard a road to follow.
C.D
